Google launches appeal against €2.4bn EU fine

AFP

Luxembourg: Google yesterday launched a legal challenge to a record €2.4bn fine imposed by European anti-trust authorities for favouring its own shopping service, lodging an appeal at the EU court in Luxembourg.
The move sets up a court battle between Brussels and the internet giant that could take years to resolve and make already tense relations between Europe and the US tech giant even more fraught.
The EU hit Google with the record fine in June for illegally favouring its shopping service in search results, giving the company 90 days to comply or face further fines.
A spokesman for the Court of Justice of the EU confirmed to AFP that the appeal had been submitted. Lodging the appeal does not suspend the fine, meaning Google is still obliged to pay up, though it can put the money in a blocked account until the decision is reached.